Kristian Lin

1 week ago | fwweekly.com | Kristian Lin

The same week that Sinners opens, another movie about the power of music opens, but just at the AMC theaters at Grapevine Mills and the Parks at Arlington. The Ballad of Wallis Island is on a much smaller scale and pursues completely different goals, and if you go in knowing that, you may find yourself utterly charmed. The film begins with Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) arriving on a private island off the coast of Wales, where he’s greeted by owner Charles Heath (Tim Key).

1 week ago | fwweekly.com | Kristian Lin

Sinners begins with a prologue showing us how different cultures regarded their powerful storytellers, including the African griots. Writer-director Ryan Coogler doesn’t make the comparison, but he is a griot. Lots of people can tell a story. He casts a mystical and mysterious narrative spell that frequently opens fissures in our sense of reality.

1 week ago | fwweekly.com | Kristian Lin

OPENINGAlappuzha Gymkhana (NR) This Indian film is about a group of students who find careers by competing in their college’s boxing team. Starring Naslen, Lukman Avaran, Ganapathi, Sandeep Pradeep, Anagha Maya Ravi, Franco Francis, and Shine Tom Chacko. (Opens Friday at AMC Grapevine Mills)Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi (NR) This Telugu-language crime thriller stars Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Arjun Rampal, Saiee Manjrekar, Srikanth, Vijayashanti, and Sohail Khan.

2 weeks ago | fwweekly.com | Kristian Lin

About half an hour into The Amateur, Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is lurking inside a Parisian apartment building where a terrorist (Barbara Probst) lives. There is no doubt of her guilt, he has a gun pointed at her back, and she is completely oblivious to his presence in the dark hallway. Yet he freezes up, unable to pull the trigger, and she enters her apartment without incident.

2 weeks ago | fwweekly.com | Kristian Lin

OPENINGAkaal: The Unconquered (NR) Gippy Grewal writes, directs, and stars in this historical drama about a group of Punjab warriors defending themselves against an enemy army. Also with Nimrat Khaira, Apinderdeep Singh, Nikitin Dheer, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Mita Vashisht, and Raj Hundal. (Opens Friday)The Ballad of Wallis Island (PG-13) This British comedy stars Tim Key as a lottery winner who decides to use his winnings to reunite the split-up members of his favorite band.